Today...

Today, I woke up early.  Often Stephen will shut off my alarm so that I can sleep longer.  Most of the time, he fails because I hear him moving around and I will get up.  His usual routine is to place his hands on my head and bless me before he leaves the house.  He always has loving words for me.  While he goes off to face the day, I start on the usual chores at home.  Okay, I'm on Facebook also!!!

Today, I started my 'alone' time with prayer for those who are in my thoughts.  Very often, I wonder if the people I mention in my prayers would be surprised that I even think of them.  It doesn't matter to me if they aren't.  What matters is that I do pray for them even when they don't know.

Today, I smiled at a cleaner because she looked worried.  She smiled back at me.  I hope it cheered her up just that tiny wee bit.

Today, I gave up a seat on the MRT so that a husband and wife could sit side by side.  They looked surprised.

Today, I chatted with a family member on whatsapp.  It wasn't easy since I was moving around but we do what we can, whenever we can.  I am sure it somehow made a difference.

Today, I caught up with all the washing, drying and folding of the clothes.  It's a simple task but I am filled with joy that I can do it.

Today, my mom-in-law told me that her son, my husband, is always glad to see me when he gets home.  She shooed me off as soon as she finished her meal.  She wanted me to have time for my own lunch before coming home. I can't wait to tell him this story.

Today, I thought of the people who are in my life and I am thankful for them all.  The ones in the real world as well as those who are on FB.  Some I haven't even met before but who already show me so much love.

Today, just like any other ordinary day but filled with extraordinary moments because I choose to live for today.

Today, I feel more blessed than I have ever felt before.

The shadow of your smile

This one was on someone's FB page recently and it triggered such a nice feeling. I grew up with this song playing in the background.  I remember copying the words down and looking for the notes, on the piano, with one finger.  Many songs bring back memories of my father.   This is just one of them.

I was very young, not even a teenager yet, when my dad went away to Vietnam to entertain the US troops.  Then he was in Australia for awhile.  Whenever I thought of him, this song used to play in my head.  Today, it is because I remember the shadow of his smile, now that he is gone.

~The shadow of your smile when you are gone

Will color all my dreams and light the dawn 

Look into my eyes my love and see 

All the lovely things you are to me 

Our wistful little star was far too high 

A tear drop kissed your lips and so did I 

Now when I remember spring 

All the joy that love can bring 

I will be remembering

The Shadow of Your Smile~

Happy Birthday, D.
Love and miss you more each day.

I was resting....

I didn't realise that a month had gone by since my last posting.  I had what was the pre- and post-election fever.  The 13th General Elections just concluded about three weeks ago and I was caught up with the news and all the events that happened before and after the results.

Many things happened.  Some good and some not-so-good but I want to believe that things happen for our benefit and well-being.  

In a way, I was resting.  I think that if I had written during this last month, it would have been one rant after another.  Today, there was a piece of good news.  One that I could rejoice in and which I did.  I felt a shift in my universe and was glad that I took a peek at my blog.

Dismayed that I had neglected it, I immediately sat to think of what to write.  So much I could say but, for now, just an explanation of my absence.  

I was resting.

Now I'm back!!

Voices and Words

"Voices in the air often go unheard but words written can never be denied".~unknown

I saw this line somewhere but can't remember now.  Anyway, between last year and this year, it seems that the news always picks up about plagiarism and copycats! 

It's an interesting topic and is also a sort of entertainment since there are people who actually believe that they will never be found out.

Of course some were caught doing so, as can be seen here, here and the latest one, here.  

Nowadays, it is impossible not to be caught.  And once people know, there goes your credibility and integrity.

I quote, "Plagiarism occurs when someone – a hurried student, a neglectful professor, an unscrupulous writer – falsely claims someone else’s words, whether copyrighted or not, as his own. Of course, if the plagiarized work is protected by copyright, the unauthorized reproduction is also a copyright infringement." Source

In today's world, technology is so advanced that people can take snippets of pages on the internet or simply do a print screen.  There won't be any chance of denial by the wrongdoer.  Deleting also doesn't help since there is always a cache somewhere!  Most writers would not take too kindly if you've copied their work and pasted it as your own.

If you're guilty, you may be shivering now!

In my opinion, it is plain deceit.  You make a conscious decision to deceive your readers into believing that you can write.

Moral of this post:  Don't pretend to be something that you're not.